Cavalier FC and Reno FC are locked at the top of the JFF four-team All-Island Confederation Premier League Playoffs after the former defeated the latter 2-1 at the UWI Bowl on Sunday.

Cavalier went ahead before Reno settled as Julian Nugent scored in the third minute. Substitute Oneal 'Skilla' Morrison made it 2-0 in the 79th minute.

Reno was granted a lifeline two minutes from time by substitute Craig Foster who netted in the 88th minute to set up seven minutes of tension especially after fourth official Karl Tyrell indicated five minutes of time added on. They did not make use of the lifeline as they were let down by faulty shooting.

In the other game at Drax Hall, St Ann's Benfica blanked Meadows 2-0 and moved menacingly into third spot. Derron Jackson 27th minute penalty and Ricardo Scott's 87th strike were enough as Benfica exacted sweet revenge on Meadows.

After four rounds of games in the six-match fixture completed, Reno remained on top with seven points the same as Cavaliers, but with a superior goal difference of plus four to Cavalier's plus one. Benfica, the Eastern Confederation champion who lost their first two games, moved into third spot on four points, the same as Meadows but with a better goal difference of minus-one compared to Meadows minus-two.

With only three points separating the four teams, it is still close going heading into the penultimate round on Wednesday where Cavaliers travel to play Meadows at Ferdie Neita Park and Reno host Benfica at Frome. The top two teams at the end of the playoffs will be promoted to the Digicel Premier League to replace the demoted Rivoli United and August Town.